The Portland daily press., 1887-09-03
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
THE OLD HOMESTEAD.


Portland Theatre was packed last night as
it always is when Denman Thompson APP
pears on the boards, and the atmosphere was
hot enough to fry oysters in the main aisle.
The reasons for Mr.. Thompson's success are
readily apparent. His presentation of the
good old farmer is such a natural piece of
acting, and can be so readily appreciated by
his audiences, that the more they see Of it
the more they like it. Then, too, he sur
rounds himself with good people who are
something more than mere feeders; they are
character actors. Such are Mr.. Beane as
Cy Prime, who could have proved everything
by Bill Jones if living, Walter Gale as hap
py Jack, the old apple woman, while Walter
Lennox, Sr., as the millionaire, and the
ladies, are all good in their respective parts.
A strong feature Of the entertainment is the
singing, in which the double quartette last
night was encored again and again. They
sand "The Old Oaken Bucket" and Hard
Times Come Again No More" admirably.
Chauncy Olcott and Gus Kammerlee were
also heard to great advantage. A potent
factor in the success of the play for Port
land was the appearance oil Bobby" Rich
ardson as Lon lIolbrook the fiddler in the
made decided hit. The piece was well put
upon the stage, and the view of Grace Church
by moonlight was warmly applauded Mr..
Thompson was called before the curtain at
the end of the second act. The piece will be
repeated tonight and no one should miss it
who has never seen it.
THE sTocKBRIDGE COURSE.
In this mornings edition will be found the
announcement, by Mr.. Ira Stockhridge, of
his 10 -, g. L.,
of 1878. The course is not as elaborate
this year as slast, embracing sixteen enter
tainments in the place of twenty. But the
material, it will be seen, is of excellent quail
ity. There are three Boston Symphony Or
chestra concerts, at which there will be So
los by the eminent prima donna of the late
National Opera Company, Nine. Hastreiter,
and by Fritz Giese, the violincellst, and
Reiter on the French horn. The old Ideals
will appear in opera, and so will the new
Ideals. With the former will be found Mile.
Zelle DE Lussan, Mile. Lablache, Mrs. Davis
and w. III. Clark with the latter, Marie
Stone, Agnes Huntington, Tom Karl, Nc
musical recital, with Rose Stewart-who
made herself such a favorite here-the So
prano, Whitney Mockridge, the tenor, who
captured the town at the symphony Orches-
ira entertainment last year, Leichtenberg,
the violinist, and the Trombone Quartette.
Of course the Haydn Association will ap-
pear in conjunction with the Germania Or
chestra. Stoddard will present his three
new lectures on Constantinople, Julius Ce-
sar, and Lord Byron. Cable will recite one
Of his stories, in his inimitable way, assisted
by the delightful Ruggles Street Church
Quartette. Charles Dickens's son will read
selections from his fathers works, and Mrs.
Scott Siddons will reappear on the lecture
platform, Bin Nye r VIII give humorous
will be the Welsh Prize Singers, assisted by
Jessie Couthoui, in her recitations, and the
Zerega Royal Troubadours from Paris.
The sale of seats will begin on Wednesday
evening, at auction, at City Hall. The
course will open Oct. 8th, and close Feb. 9th,
just before Lent. Wednesday evenings will
be the Stockbridge nights. The new book
ticket will be used, which Is more convent
ent than the old style, and prevents the issue
of duplicates.
NOTES.
Mr.. Jeanette NJ. Thurber, the head of the
National Opera Company. does not give up
hopes of reOrganiZing the company, in spite
|. of the debts, the legal suits and the sale Of
effects to meet a mortgage
Mrs. Langtry has supplied Mr.. Coughlan's
place in her company. Her leading man
during the coming season will be Maurice
Barrymore. who is at present playing at
| Niblo's in "Lagardere." Mr. Barrymore
| for the last two seasons has supported Mad
| anne Modjeska.
The management under which Mrs. James
| Brown Potter will make her American tour
| seems to be definitely settled at last. The
| cable dispatch announcing that III. G. Miner
| has abandoned the management OF Mrs. Pot
| ter was fatty contradicted by another sent
| by Mr.. Miner and received by his manager,
| j. Charles Davis, at the Peoples Theatre
| last night, in which Mr.. Miner stated that
Mrs. Potter would positively act under his
| management. Her first appearance will be